Rio women fall to Cumberlands

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. — Cheyenne Madden had a career-high 18 points and LaTeesha DeLoach added a season-high 17 points of her own to lead the University of the Cumberlands to a 61-48 win over the University of Rio Grande, Tuesday night, in non-conference women’s basketball action at the O. Wayne Rollins Center.

The Patriots, a former Rio rival during their days as fellow members of the Mid-South Conference, improved to 4-0 with the victory.

Rio Grande suffered its first loss in three outings, committing a season-high 28 turnovers in the process.

The RedStorm never led in the contest, but trailed just 17-16 after a jumper by junior guard Sharday Baines (East Cleveland, OH) with 8:09 left in the first half.

However, UC responded with a 14-0 run over the next six minutes to open up a 15-point advantage and never looked back.

The Patriots, who are coached by former Rio assistant Melissa Irvin, led by as many as 24 points after a conventional three-point play by Madden made it 50-26 with 5:26 remaining in the third quarter.

Rio Grande closed the gap to 12 points, 59-47, after a bucket by senior center Harley Adler (Burton, OH) with 7:04 left to play, but got no closer.

The two teams combined for just 10 points in the final quarter and neither managed to connect on a field goal of the final four minutes. Cumberlands was 9-for-31 from the field (29.0%) in the second half, while Rio Grande was 5-for-21 (23.8%).